Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1881 — An English Tale of American Life [ARTICLE]

An English Tale of American Life

Bradford (Eng.) Observer. Jack Finehart had one love affair, and only cue. It was his romance in life, and he was very cnary of talking about it. But I learned tbe facts, and they form a startling commentary on border life and the character of the man. He and his brother both fell in love with the same girl, the niece of an officer in the regular army, then stationed at Camp Douglas, Utah. Jack could hate as well as love, and he could make and keep a promise. He and his brother came to an agreement by which both men pledged themselves never again to see or speak to the young lady, the penalty for a violation of the contract being that tbe offender should die at tbe hands of the other. The brothers shook bauds over the bargain, and each went his way. Six years after, Jack sought out his brother, traveling over 2,000 miles to do so. He told him quietly that he had broken his oath, and wanted the compact kept. The brother remonstrated, but Jack was firm as adamant. He had forfeited a pledge, and he was ready to die. The end of it all was that the two brothers met on tbe bank of tbe Platte river one lovely summer evening. Jack drew a heavy derringer, cocked it, and bauded "it to his brother. Tbe latter drew off a few paces, leveled the weaoon, and looked once more at Jack. “I cau’t do it,” he said. Finehart stood there, solitary, tall, his arms folded, and an expression of quiet melancholy <on his face. “I am ready,”’ was his sole reply. The brother leveled the pistol, took deliberate aim aud pulled the trigger. The cartridge did not explode. Jack took one long quiet look at it, and seeing bis brother about to fire again, once more gazed at tbe river. Suddenly tbe brother raised bis Arm, aud tbe deadly weapon whizzed through tbe air and fount] a last resting place beneath the turbuleut waters of the rushing stream. Jack advanced in anger. “You are <a perjurer,” he said: “I would have killed you,” and disdaining the proffered bant] of his brother he strode rapidly away. The two never met again.